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Home Equity Line of Credit Finder
Compare lenders and rates to take advantage of the equity you've built in your home.
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If you’re looking to renovate, finance a large expense or start chipping away at your bucket list faster, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be a strong option. HELOCs allow you to use the equity you’ve built up in your home like a line of credit. Knowing how they work and what to look out for can mean the difference between reaching your goals and getting into financial hot water.
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What's in this guide?
What is a home equity line of credit?
A home equity line of credit — or HELOC — is a financial product that allows you to borrow against the equity you’ve built in a property you own.
A HELOC is similar to a loan in that you and your lender agree on how much equity you can borrow and the deadline for you paying it back. You use your loan as a line of credit, drawing from the balance as you need it and repaying what you owe plus interest. The lender typically sets the initial limit of your credit line using similar criteria to a regular home loan.
Your property acts as collateral for your line of credit, which means if you don’t pay back the loan, the lender can repossess or sell your property.
Calculate your estimated HELOC amount
For a general idea of the HELOC amount you might see approval for, you’ll need to do the following:
- Determine your home’s current value. If you need help finding a general idea of what your house is worth, turn to online real estate listing sites. Many offer estimates by address to entice you to put your house on the market.
- Find out how much you still owe on your current mortgage. Log in to your mortgage account to see the current balance on your loan, or call your loan provider.
- Calculate your LTV ratio. Divide your mortgage balance by your home’s value. For example: $125,000 (mortgage balance) / $175,000 (home value) = 0.71. Using the calculation, the LTV ratio is 71% — which is an eligible LTV ratio for many lenders. Most banks look for an LTV ratio of less than 80% for approval.
- Calculate 80% of your home’s value. Most lenders allow you to borrow up to 80% of your home’s value — less what you owe on your mortgage. For example: $175,000 * .8 = $140,000.
- Determine how much a lender may let you borrow. Using the above calculation, your typical lender may allow you to borrow up to $140,000. But first, you must subtract the oustanding balance of your mortgage from that figure: $140,000 – $125,000 = $15,000.
Use our free HELOC calculator to determine how much you might be approved for.
How do I compare HELOCs?
Not all HELOC lenders are created equal. Here’s how to compare HELOCs during your search:
- Check the lenders’ advertised rates. A HELOC’s interest rate is generally a base rate that’s determined by the market plus a margin that becomes the lender’s profit. The margin you’ll pay varies by lender but is ultimately what results in a higher or lower interest rate.
- Look at each lender’s fees. Most HELOCs come with annual fees, while some lenders also charge early termination, inactivity and other fees.
- Pay attention to the fine print. Review the HELOC’s draw and repayment periods to make sure they fit your timeline and financial goals. Draw periods can last as long as 10 years, while repayment periods can extend to 20 years.
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How do I apply for a HELOC?
You must own a home and be at least 18 years old to get started:
- Find a HELOC lender. Find the best HELOC lender by comparing interest rates, fees, customer reviews and requirements from two or more lenders.
- Complete an application. Look for lenders that allow you to at least start your application online. You may need to speak to a loan officer over the phone or at a local branch to complete the process.
- Submit documentation. To verify your personal and financial information, you’ll likely submit proof of income, paperwork that confirms the outstanding balance on your mortgage and contracts that show the purchase date and price of your home.
- Get your appraisal and title report. Your lender will order an appraisal to learn the estimated market value of your home. The title confirms you own the property and reveals any claims against it.
- Close on your HELOC. You’ll pay any closing costs, sign documents and decide how you to access your funds.
Expect to submit a range documentation to confirm your personal and financial details:
- Name and address for each borrower
- Purchase date and price of the home
- Employment income
- Income from any other sources
- Estimated market value of the home
- Outstanding balance on the current mortgage
- The monthly payment on the current mortgage
- Requested loan amount
- Photo ID for all borrowers
- Previous address, if at current address less than two years
- Previous employer, if with current employer less than two years
HELOC requirements
Eligibility varies by lender but typically requires:
- An existing mortgage with 15% to 20% home equity
- A credit score of at least 620
- A debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of less than 43%
- A combined loan-to-value ratio of 85% or less
HELOC costs and fees
The range of fees you might encounter with a HELOC somewhat parallel those that come with getting a mortgage, like application and closing fees. Not all lenders charge the same fees, and you’ll want to read your list of fees carefully to, for instance, avoid paying both a transaction and an inactivity fee — basically fees for both using your HELOC and not using it.
| Fee type | Typical cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Ranges from $0 to $500 | Charge to process your application. Ask if yours can refund the fee if you move forward with the HELOC. |
| Appraisal fee | Around $300 | For HELOCs that require it, covers the cost for an appraiser to calculate the market value of your home. |
| Closing costs | 2% to 5% of the loan amount | Can include the appraisal fee, the application fee or the attorney’s fee. Ask your lender to waive this fee or negotiate for a lower percentage. |
| Cancellation or early termination fee | $100 to $500 | Early closure fee for cancelling your HELOC earlier than agreed to. |
| Annual fee | From $50 to $100 | Fee paid annually across duration of your HELOC. Some lenders waive the fee forthe first year. |
| Transaction fee | Depends on terms | Fee charged each time you draw from your HELOC, added to the overall loan amount. |
| Inactivity fee | Around $100 each year of nonuse | Fee for failing to draw down your HELOC. You may be able to negotiate with your lender to have it waived if attached to your line of credit. |
| Prepayment fee | Up to $500 | Fee charged for paying off your balance and closing your account within three to five years of opening it, depending on your lender. |
What can I use a HELOC for?
Most lenders allow you to borrow against your equity for any legitimate purpose. You aren’t required to disclose what you’ll use the money for — simply withdraw funds from your HELOC account when you need them. HELOCs are best for short-term borrowing when you don’t know exactly how much you’ll need.
Homeowners typically use home equity lines of credit to:
- Finance a vacation
- Renovate a home or make large-scale repairs
- Pay down a mortgage balance or consolidate other debt
- Pay bills
- Buy a new car
- Pay a child’s college tuition
Case study: Leah's experience
Leah Fallon
Copy Editor
When we decided to finish our basement, we knew we needed to pay for it by taking advantage of the equity we’d built in our home after paying down our mortgage for five years.
We took out a HELOC we could use for anything with a higher credit line than we needed to make the renovations. Since we were stuck with a high APR on some credit card debt, we decided to roll this into our low-rate HELOC as well.
As we started our renovations, we wrote checks from our HELOC account to pay the contractors. We learned quickly that paying the minimum balance only covered the interest, so we made sure to increase our payments when we could.
Our HELOC came with a fixed 2.99% APR for the first year and then jumped to a variable rate thereafter. We planned to pay off as much as we could that first year to cut the balance in half by the second year. And our loan officer offered to refinance the loan to a fixed rate after the first year, too — as long as we had enough equity in our home.
Overall, we found that a HELOC was an easy and affordable way to get money for our growing family home.
How to use a HELOC to invest
You can use a HELOC to borrow against the equity in one property and invest that money in another property to diversify your portfolio. Because real estate tends to appreciate over time, owning additional property can lead to a valuable financial return in the long run. You’ll also get a tax break on the interest you pay on an investment with a HELOC.
Pros and cons
Pros
- More accessible. A HELOC is generally easier to obtain than other types of loans and credit cards.
- Can be used for almost anything. The line of credit can be used for any legitimate purpose.
- Flexible access to funds. The funds can be easily withdrawn through a check or debit card linked to the HELOC.
- Can make additional repayments. Extra payments can be made during the repayment period, which can help reduce the amount of interest paid over the life of the HELOC.
- Low interest rates. One of the most attractive benefits of HELOCs is that they often have lower interest rates compared to personal loans or credit cards.
Cons
- Difficult to manage. With easy access to such a large amount of money, you’ll need to be financially disciplined to manage a HELOC.
- Risk losing your property. If your line of credit isn’t repaid according to the terms of your contract, the lender can take your property as payment.
Should I take out a HELOC?
If you’re thinking of taking out a HELOC, you should consider whether:
- You have the discipline to stick to a budget.
- You have not borrowed against equity that has been calculated on an inflated price.
- You have the restraint to not use all the funds at once.
- You have a cash buffer to protect yourself from rising interest rates.
Tips for managing a HELOC
There’s a lot to think about when considering a home loan, no matter what type you’d like to get and what you intend to use the funds for.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Minimize the amount of interest payable on your HELOC by making payments on the principal during the draw period.
- Don’t withdraw more funds than you need.
- Compare a range of HELOCs to ensure you’re getting a competitive deal.
- Keep at least 20% equity in your home in case house prices fall.
How can I protect my home when borrowing against it with a HELOC?
When you borrow against your equity with a HELOC, you’re agreeing to use your home as collateral against default. That means your lender can take ownership of your home if you find yourself unable to repay what you owe.
To protect yourself against potential default — and losing your home — don’t borrow against the equity that’s calculated on an inflated price of your home’s value. And avoid borrowing or using the full amount of equity that’s available for you. That way, if your home depreciates in value, you’ll have a cushion of funds to protect you against default, rather than potentially owing more on the loan than what your home is actually worth.
HELOC alternatives
If you don’t qualify for a HELOC, other options may allow you to tap into the equity you’ve built in your property
Bottom line
A home equity line of credit can provide you with funds to renovate your home, buy a new one, start a business or simply knock another goal off your list. Before applying, budget what you can pay toward repayments and a plan of attack for repaying what you owe. And understand the consequences of what can happen if you fail to pay it back — including losing your home.
Where do I go from here? Check out our other HELOC guides:
Common questions about HELOCs
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